Emissions to water by Industry in the Netherlands, 1990-2001
The emissions to water of most substances are still decreasing. Considerable reductions were achieved in the period 1995-2001 for phosphorus, cadmium and mercury.
| 1990 | 1995 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | of which | ||
| direct | indirect | ||||||
| 1 000 kg | |||||||
| Nitrogen (as total N) | 20 950 | 13 510 | 11 700 | 10 240 | 10 010 | 3 530 | 6 480 |
| Phosphorus (as total P) | 12 340 | 5 160 | 4 440 | 2 910 | 1 830 | 514 | 1 320 |
| Cadmium (Cd) | 4.0 | 0.775 | 0.331 | 0.309 | 0.298 | 0.257 | 0.041 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 46.0 | 31.9 | 28.5 | 25.4 | 23.8 | 3.97 | 19.9 |
| Copper (Cu) | 53.7 | 39.1 | 40.0 | 28.8 | 24.6 | 13.2 | 11.4 |
| Mercury (Hg) | 0.723 | 0.328 | 0.182 | 0.040 | 0.0628 | 0.0306 | 0.0322 |
| Lead (Pb) | 25.6 | 12.2 | 9.97 | 6.24 | 6.39 | 2.96 | 3.43 |
| Nickel (Ni) | 42.9 | 28.4 | 23.4 | 18.2 | 22.1 | 4.70 | 17.4 |
| Zinc (Zn) | 176 | 78.8 | 61.4 | 52.7 | 54.7 | 30.3 | 24.4 |
| Arsenic (As) | 4.89 | 1.97 | 2.65 | 1.80 | 1.56 | 1.25 | 0.308 |
| Ethylbenzene | 3.38 | 6.72 | 5.00 | 3.09 | 2.99 | 0.384 | 2.61 |
| 1,2,-Dichloroethane | 5.58 | 1.47 | 1.95 | 1.50 | 2.39 | 2.34 | 0.054 |
| 1,1,1,-Trichloroethane | 0.096 | 0.071 | 0.027 | 0.033 | 0.028 | 0.027 | 0.0001 |
| Trichloroethene | 66.3 | 0.421 | 0.097 | 0.755 | 0.771 | 0.095 | 0.676 |
| Drins1) | 0.00892 | 0.0028 | 0.0009 | 0.0011 | 0.00094 | 0.00094 | - |
| Source: CCDM (2003). | CBS/EDC/Aug03/0114 | ||||||
| 1) Aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, enisodrin. | |||||||
Emissions to water by industry still falling
1985-1995 was characterised by major emission reductions in the target sector (up to 95%). This is in part the result of the implementation of the various national and international policy objectives. Considerable reductions were also achieved in 1995-2001 for phosphorus, cadmium and mercury, in part due to the closure of a few chemical fertiliser factories.
The emissions of priority substances to water must be reduced to such an extent that standards for water quality are met. In 2000, the MAC concentration (maximum allowable concentration) must be met; the deadline for the target value is 2010.
The emission reductions that have already been achieved mean that the contribution made by industry to the exceedance of the target value is zero or minimal in the case of, for example, organic micropollutants. For the heavy metals in particular, extra efforts will be required to achieve the objective for 2010 (VROM, 2001).
Proportion of direct emissions still high
The table shows emissions at source. For 2001 it gives both direct emissions to surface water and indirect emissions to the sewer system. Emissions to the sewer system only reach the surface water after treatment; they are therefore indirect. Since a portion of the substances discharged indirectly is removed by water treatment plants, the ultimate burden on surface water is lower.
